JCCSF Friend Center Announces 2011-12 Season

Part of the Arts and Ideas series of performances, lectures and conversations, The Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) today announced details of its comprehensive Performing Arts programming for 2011/12. Highlights include an evening with Marvin Hamlisch; performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company; the Zero Mostel play Zero Hour; and the West Coast premiere of Up From the Stacks.

THEATER
ZERO HOUR The Zero Mostel Play
Written By and Starring Jim Brochu as Zero Mostel
Friday and Saturday, October 21 & 22, 8 pm, Sunday, October 23, 2 pm
In this award-winning, tour de force performance, Jim Brochure portrays Zero Mostel, the irrepressible actor and comedian giving a fictional interview with an unseen New York Times reporter shortly before his death in 1977. Brochu's Mostel recounts his life and career; he describes the impact of the Hollywood blacklist on himself and his friends, as well as his success with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Fiddler on the Roof and the original movie version of The Producers. Tkts: $42 - $52

L.A. Theatre Works presents THE RIVALRY
Sunday, January 29, 4 pm
The Rivalry, Norman Corwin's riveting depiction of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, uses original dialogue to bring to life the fierce competition between the future President and the incumbent Senator as they tackled the most controversial issues - slavery and the American concept of freedom. As we commemorate the 150 anniversary of the Civil War, The Rivalry features Hollywood's finest actors and raises questions of values and rights that are still being debated and remain unresolved at every level of our society: race, social and economic inequity, states' rights and the role of the government in the lives of its citizens. Tkts: $42 - $55

Theatre and Bookfest
West Coast Premiere
Newly commissioned by the New York Public Library and Lincoln Center this season.
UP FROM THE STACKS New music-theater from Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy
Thursday, February 23, 8 pm
Set in the New York Public Library circa 1970, Up From The Stacks is the story of Lincoln Cabinee, a college student working part time as a page retrieving books from the library's 43 million item collection. This mundane job unwittingly thrusts the protagonist into the treacherous crosshairs of scholarly obsession and the businesses of amusement and vice flourishing on 42nd street. The intellectual life of the city and the happiness of a young man hang in the balance. Tkts: $35 - $48

MAGIC THEATRE'S VIRGIN PLAY SERIES Monday, January 23 - February 13, 7 pm
The Magic returns with a new round of readings of in progress scripts performed before a live audience. Four plays will be read by local actors, who will engage with the playwright and audience following each reading. This rare experience has theatergoers take part in the creative process. Tkts: $12 - $15

WORD FOR WORD OFF THE PAGE SERIES PRESENTS
Selections from Peter Orner's Esther Stories.
Monday, February 27, 7 pm
JCCSF proudly welcomes back San Francisco's premiere producer of short stories on stage, Word for Word, as they perform selections from local writer Peter Orner's collection Esther Stories. Word for Word presents Orner's family tales, in a stylized staged reading. Suggested donation $10 - $15

COMEDY
35th ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO COMEDY COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday, September 27, 8 pm
The Friend Center hosts the top five contenders from each of two preliminary rounds of the SF Comedy Competition as they face off for the first time in Kanbar Hall. Tomorrow's stand up stars from all over the country give it their best shot. Alumni include Dana Carvey, Louis C.K., Ellen Degeneres, Patton Oswalt, and Robin Williams. Tkts: $15 - $30

Rita Rudner Saturday, December 3, 8 pm
Renowned for her sweet-as-pie delivery of shrewdly hilarious observations and life and relationships, award-winning comedian Rita Rudner brings her laugh-till-you cry show to Kanbar Hall. Tkts: $62 - $75

THE GRAND PERFORMANCE
THE Capitol Steps Sunday, March 18, 2 & 5 pm
With the presidential primaries looming and Bin Laden long gone (bye bye!), who knows what these masters of political satire have up their collective sleeves? Which Republicans will be left standing? Can Sarah Palin keep up the media swirl around her? Only the Capitol Steps know for sure. The Friend Center happily brings back Cap Steps each spring for a brand new, rousingly funny take on the American political scene. Tkts: $46 - $55

AN EVENING WITH Bruce Vilanch Saturday, April 23, 8 pm
One of the funniest men alive, Bruce Vilanch is best known from his days on "Hollywood Squares" and his Broadway and San Francisco starring role as Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray. TV audiences have been laughing for years at his hysterical writing for the Oscars, years of Comic Relief specials starring Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, the American Comedy Award TV specials, The People's Choice Awards and many Bette Midler performances. Tkts: $40 - $55

FAMILY
Theatreworks USA presents
CHARLOTTE'S WEB Sunday, Nov. 12, 11 am & 2 pm
Based on E. B. White's classic and loving story of the relationship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte, this treasured tale features madcap and endearing farm animals, while it explores bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship. Tkts: $18 - $24

THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID FAIRY TALES Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Sunday, January 22, 11am and 2 pm
Poor Jack. He's got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans-and then there's that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! This adorable show created for kids four years and up deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Tkts: $18 - $24

CASEY CARLE'S BUBBLEMANIA Sunday, April 1, 11 am and 2 pm
Who can resist bubbles? Visual comedy, quick wit, stunning creations made entirely from soap bubbles, Casey Carle's creations grow from intricate and imaginative bubble art to human-size bubble "traps" - perfect for the whole family! Tkts: $12 - $18

Subscription tickets are available from Monday, July 25, and single tickets go on sale August 22. To order, call the JCCSF Box Office at 415/292-1233 or visit www.jccsf.org/arts <http://www.jccsf.org/arts> .

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